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When
you hear the name of a known artist, you associate a special style or
music with this musician. Classical Soul (1994), Urban Gypsy
(1995), Madrid (1998), Universal Language (2000),
Cruisin’ (2001), The Very Best of Marc Antoine (2002),
Mediterraneo (2003), Modern Times (2005), Hi-Lo Split
(2007), and Foreignexchange (2009) are indices for Marc's Gypsy
and Latin influenced contemporary jazz.
Some of these albums were produced by Rick Braun, Philippe Saisse,
David Ferrero and others. With his growing skills he is now producing
his albums himself and also starts in new directions. With his new
album My Classical Way Marc leaves the contemporary jazz style
and creates his music on classical themes.
Marc performs on his new album all instruments, except keyboards by
Philippe Saisse on Dreamer and Rodrigo's Concierto, vocals by Jasmine
Roy on Carmen B and Rebeca Vega on Dreamer. The fantastic cover of the
album was painted by Muramasa Kudo and designed by Javier Garcia, who
also taught Marc the secrets of Protools.
First pick of Marc's selection is Carmen B. George Bizet
composed the opera Carmen in 1875. Carmen was one of Carlos
Saura's movie trilogy popularizing the Flamenco. Marc interprets the
widely popular theme with a Brazilian Samba rhythm.
Caprice No. 24 in A minor, Op. 1, is among the best known of
violinist and composer Niccolo Paganini's compositions. Backed with a
syncopated Flamenco rhythm Antoine presents his version of this motif
decorating it with his own musical ideas.
In his early 20's Claude Debussy wrote Reverie. Marc transforms
this theme into Dreamer. I especially like the paradisiacal
organ introduction. Philippe Saisse adds his piano echoes to Antoine's
intimate flow. German Baroque composer, organist and teacher Johann
Pachelbel composed Canon, a piece of chamber music, which has a
certain popularity as wedding music. Now bridal pairs have a new
choice.
Wolfgang 40 is inspired by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Symphony No.
40 in G minor, KV. 550, from 1788. Often played is especially the
1st movement in Molto allegro, which finds its valuable place in
Antoine's piece.
The Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo wrote the Concierto de
Aranjuez in 1938. This oeuvre was written for the unusual
combination of orchestra and guitar. Miles Davis performed on his
album Sketches of Spain (1960) a rendition in several
variations spellbound by the magnificence of the composition. Marc
takes with Rodrigo's Concierto another approach to this
masterpiece. In opposition to Miles' opinion he accelerates the tempo
and creates with Philippe Saisse's strong support something new.
The Air on the G String is a musical piece for string and
piano, arranged by August Wilhelmj from the Air of Johann
Sebastian Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068. Air
On Madrid is a further transformation of Bach's opus paying
tribute to the hustle and bustle of this modern city but still on the
search of the Elysium.
Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23 was composed by Fredric
Chopin. Marc defuses the fingering difficulty of the piece, merging
the essential melody with Brazilian Samba to his Opus. The
Four Seasons is Vivaldi's best-known work, and is among the most
popular pieces of Baroque music. Marcs adaption entitled Rebirth
is his musical esteem of this piece of timeless beauty.
French Romantic composer Charles Gounod formed in 1859 his Ave
Maria based on Bach's Prelude No. 1 in C major from Book I of
the Well-Tempered Clavier (BWV 846). Marc Antoine spins the
romanticism of this theme further in Maria's Song. Combining
his acoustic guitar with heroic synth vocals, bells and wind sounds he
prepares for the next special day.
Marc Antoine once declared: "So now I am a smooth jazz artist, but I
don't consider myself being a smooth jazz artist because I am a
musician and I think I'm mixing a lot of things in my music." With his
new album My Classical Way he re-defines his position as
guitarist and his relationship to music. This album is a return to the
period, when he studied Classical music guitar in Paris.
Buy the album in all stores
Album Information
Title: My ClassicalWay
Artist: Marc Antoine
Year: 2010
Length: 0:39:09
Genre: Smooth Jazz
Label: Frazzy Frog Music
Tracks:
01 Carmen B [3:46]
02 Caprice [3:21]
03 Dreamer [4:22]
04 Canon [4:02]
05 Wolfgang 40 [3:42]
06 Rodrigo's Concierto [3:36]
07 Air On Madrid [4:27]
08 Opus [3:09]
09 Rebirth [3:55]
10 Maria's Song [4:50]
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